12.25 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase 2m 4f

Henry de Bromhead saddles two smart mares in the shape of Lantry Lady and Majestic Force, with the first-named of those getting the nod on the basis she was a superior hurdler. One who will appreciate if conditions turn testing, the Grade 3 winner wasn’t disgraced when fourth to Lossiemouth (beaten 12 and a half lengths) in last year’s Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The Marigas’ well-bred seven-year-old is an exciting recruit to fences.

Stablemate Majestic Force put in an outstanding round of jumping for her first try at chasing at Cork last time only to be gunned down late on by the Grade 1-placed Spindleberry. If it isn’t here, she’ll be winning races over fences before long. Fun Fun Fun, ridden by her breeder Patrick Mullins, looks the best of Willie Mullins’ trio if taking to fences as hoped.

SELECTION: LANTRY LADY

Next best: Majestic Force

12.55 Race And Stay Handicap Chase 2m

Lazer Wolf got hit with a 12lb rise for winning readily at Clonmel and has earned this rise in grade. With his confidence up, he could follow up as a ground-versatile performer going the right way for a top outfit.

Aslukwoodhavit won on his seasonal reappearance last term so a 248-day layoff coming here perhaps isn’t a negative. This is more manageable than the Punchestown Festival handicap chase he finished down the field in when last seen.

SELECTION: LAZER WOLF

Next best: Aslukwoodhavit

1.25 Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 2) 2m

A really smart novice chase in which Inthepocket can rubberstamp his Arkle credentials, having impressed at Wexford on his first start since a setback that saw him miss the majority of last season. The Grade 1-winning novice hurdler could be taken on for the lead by Firefox, with connections apparently likely to make more use of him than last time in the Drinmore (beaten a neck and short-head by stablemate Croke Park). However, Inthepocket showed he had no problem taking a lead when winning at Aintree over hurdles.

Ile Atlantique made a pleasing first start over fences when landing an extended-two-and-a-half-mile contest at Navan last month, and his career-best came here when second in the Lawlor’s on this card 12 months ago. Perhaps it’s an overly harsh assessment, but it remains a slight concern that he never managed to win another race after a successful reappearance in each of his last two seasons.

SELECTION: INTHEPOCKET

Next best: Firefox

2.30 I.N.H. Stallion Owners Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle 2m

A tricky affair in which marginal preference is for Icare d’Aubrelle, who finished a decent third in a Cork maiden hurdle on his first start of the season. That was also his first run in 420 days, so there could well be a nice chunk of improvement to come from the former course bumper winner.

Joystick is another likely improver from his fourth at Punchestown last month. Honesty Policy debuts for Gordon Elliott after finishing second between the flags at Castletown-Geoghegan just 91 days ago, while Trasna Na Pairce ran a big race when second in a Fairyhouse bumper five weeks ago and has since switched to Henry de Bromhead - both were previously trained by Pat Doyle.

Rachael Blackmore rides Trasna Na Pairce over interesting stablemate Los Blanco. Banter At The Bar joined Mouse Morris and J.P. McManus privately after his point-to-point debut win for Sean Doyle at Portrush.

SELECTION: ICARE D’AUBRELLE

Next best: Joystick

3.05 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f

Giant Haystacks has top-weight and an 8lb rise to overcome after winning on the third day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. That said, this looks a weaker race and it must be taken as a sign he’s come out of his race in fine fettle to see connections run him again so soon.

Moylussa, a winner at Tipperary two starts ago, will likely benefit from the handicap experience gained last time at Fairyhouse, while Another Ocana is probably on a workable mark if conditions turn testing enough for him to be seen at his best.

SELECTION: GIANT HAYSTACKS

Next best: Moylussa

3.40 Fifty Stars At Sunnyhill Stud (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m

All bar one of the 10 runners are unraced, so a fair deal of guesswork is required. It can often pay to stick with flat-type pedigrees in the early four-year-old bumpers (the first two home in this last year were by Sea The Stars and Nathaniel) and Camelot filly Light Up The Dark makes some appeal for the red-hot Joseph O’Brien team, related to a couple of winners on the level.

Cracksman gelding Test The Market is respected for Gordon Elliott, while Liz Doyle’s Chez Fred is out of a close relation to the stable’s high-class Le Vent D’Antan, who won one of the first four-year-old bumpers of the year back in 2013. The market will likely be highly informative.

SELECTION: LIGHT UP THE DARK

Next best: Chez Fred